My third training camp as a professional has begun, and once again, I find myself with the second team. The competition for second base and shortstop is fierce this year.
The top candidate for the regular second base position is Thomas Lowry, a foreign player who lived up to expectations last season with a .283 batting average, 21 home runs, and 75 RBIs. In addition to Lowry, six players, including Uchizawa, who was the first draft pick four years ago, veteran Honda, who turns 37 this year, 32-year-old Iida known for his ironclad defense, Adachi in his second year, and myself, are vying for the spot.
When it comes to defense, I believe I rank third behind Iida and Honda, and I consider myself the fastest. However, my batting remains an issue. At the moment, I'm the weakest hitter among the six.
For the shortstop position, Arai, now in his second year after college, is the top candidate. Last season, as a rookie, he played in 125 games, batting .269 with 14 home runs, narrowly missing the Rookie of the Year award but receiving a special award. Competing against him are Katsuyama, a 12-year veteran, and Noda, in his fourth year after university. Additionally, there are younger players in their second and third years after graduation, making it a tough competition.
In the second team's Red vs. White games, Adachi and I often start as second basemen. Thomas Lowry, Honda, Iida, and Uchizawa are participating in the first-team training camp. While Adachi may have more power, my defense and speed are superior. In the Red vs. White games, I've played in 10 games so far, with 12 hits in 40 at-bats, a .300 batting average, and 5 stolen bases. Although Adachi hit two home runs, his batting average was in the lower side, so at this point, I feel I'm ahead.
Then, halfway through the camp, first-team player Honda got injured, and Uchizawa, in poor form, was demoted to the second team. This meant an opportunity for me.
The next morning, before practice, Coach Yatsu called me into his office.
"Hey, Takahashi, do you know why you're here?" he asked, looking at me intently.
"Honestly, no idea, Coach," I replied, though I had a pretty good guess.
"We're promoting someone to the first team."
I felt a surge of excitement. This was it. My chance.
"Adachi."
I blinked. "Adachi?"
"Yep. Do you know why?"
I was at a loss. "Maybe to give him some first-team experience for the future?"
"That's one reason. But mainly, it's a process of elimination."
"Process of elimination?" I echoed, still confused.
"You might be wondering why not you," Coach Yatsu said, reading my mind. "I recommended Adachi. Do you know why?"
I was silent, trying to wrap my head around it. Wasn't this supposed to be based on performance?
"I'll be straight with you, Takahashi. Lately, you haven't shown your usual fire. After your stint with the first team, you seem a bit too comfortable. Even if you're hitting well in the minors, without that burning desire, it won't translate to the majors. You need to play like every ball is a do-or-die situation. Right now, Adachi has that fire. That's why I recommended him."
I felt a surge of anger. I was giving my all. How could he say otherwise?
"You're probably thinking, 'What does he know about me?'"
"No, it's not that," I said, though my mind was racing.
"Well, I can see it on your face," he continued. "You're practicing hard, sure. But results aren't everything. It's about intent, passion. You've gotten complacent after being with the SR group for two years. That's what I'm seeing."
"I'm doing my best, Coach," I argued. "I have better stats than Adachi."
"It's not just about stats," Coach Yatsu said firmly. "It's about the hunger, the drive. Adachi's showing that right now, and you're not. Think about it."
I left the office, seething with frustration. Was this favoritism? Adachi is loud and energetic, always shouting during practice. Is that what the coach wanted from me? To be more vocal? It felt ridiculous.
I went back to the training ground, determined to prove myself. In the Red vs. White game that day, I went four-for-four and stole three bases. Meanwhile, Uchizawa, demoted to the second team, went hitless in four at-bats and struck out three times. Even with this performance, Adachi was still favored?
I glared at Coach Yatsu, who was reviewing the scorebook on the bench. I'll show him. I'll show everyone.
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